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The impact of remittances on food insecurity evidence from Mexico

Author

Listed:
  • Jorge Mora-Rivera

    (Tecnológico de Monterrey, Campus Ciudad de México)

  • Edwin van Gameren

    (El Colegio de México)

Abstract

Literature has provided evidence that remittances have an impact on (economic) development and quality of life in developing countries. However, little is known about how income from remittances is perceived and used in relation to food consumption and, more specifically, its effect on food insecurity. Using data from CONEVAL’s 2013 and 2015 Rural Households Surveys (ENCHOR) we estimate ordered probit regressions with instrumental variables in order to assess the impact of both international and internal remittances on food insecurity of households in rural Mexico. Our findings show that both kinds of remittances have significant effects on the food insecurity. International remittances appear to reduce food insecurity more than internal remittances, although not enough to make remittance-receiving households food secure. The findings suggest that remittances as a household strategy are not sufficient to ameliorate the precarious food insecurity of poor households in rural Mexico. Therefore, remittances should be considered as a complementary step to reduce food insecurity levels, but should not replace the government’s responsibility for solving this problem.

Suggested Citation

  • Jorge Mora-Rivera & Edwin van Gameren, 2020. "The impact of remittances on food insecurity evidence from Mexico," Serie documentos de trabajo del Centro de Estudios Económicos 2020-01, El Colegio de México, Centro de Estudios Económicos.
    • Handle: RePEc:emx:ceedoc:2020-01
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    2. Gokul P. Paudel & Trung Thanh Nguyen & Ulrike Grote, 2025. "Trade‐offs between labour migration and agricultural productivity: Evidence from smallholder wheat systems in Nepal," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 37(1), pages 202-229, January.
    3. Fassil Eshetu & Jema Haji & Mengistu Ketema & Abule Mehare, 2023. "Impact of Rural Out-Migration on Vulnerability to Rural Multidimensional Poverty in Southern Ethiopia," Journal of International Migration and Integration, Springer, vol. 24(3), pages 1175-1209, September.
    4. Robert Becker Pickson & Peng Gui & Lirong Jian & Elliot Boateng, 2025. "The role of private sector investment in agriculture: A catalyst for sustainable development in Asia," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 33(1), pages 113-128, February.
    5. Mohammad Abdul Malek & Hoa Thi Truong & Tetsushi Sonobe, 2025. "COVID-19, food insecurity and panic buying behavior: Evidence from rural Bangladesh," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 17(1), pages 101-125, February.
    6. Balana, Bedru & Olanrewaju, Opeyemi, 2024. "Financial inclusion, agricultural inputs use, and household food security evidence from Nigeria," IFPRI discussion papers 2293, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    7. Isaac Koomson & Simplice A. Asongu & Alex O. Acheampong, 2023. "Financial inclusion and food insecurity: Examining linkages and potential pathways," Journal of Consumer Affairs, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 57(1), pages 418-444, January.
    8. Waliu O. Shittu & Gazi M. Hassan & Frank G. Scrimgeour, 2023. "COVID-19 and the Role of Remittances on Sustainable Development: Insights from Sub-Saharan Africa," Working Papers in Economics 23/05, University of Waikato.
    9. Lambrecht, Isabel B. & Mardonova Tolibkhonovna, Mohru & Pechtl, Sarah & Teirlinck, Charlotte, 2025. "Double burden or Newfound freedom? Women’s empowerment amid large-scale male labor migration from rural Tajikistan," IFPRI discussion papers 2347, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    10. Gosselin-Pali, Adrien, 2025. "Migration and nutrition of the left behind: Evidence from Ghana," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 188(C).
    11. Rosa Weber & Douglas S. Massey, 2023. "Assessing the Effect of Increased Deportations on Mexican Migrants’ Remittances and Savings Brought Home," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 42(2), pages 1-27, April.
    12. Kpodar, Kangni & Amir Imam, Patrick, 2024. "How do transaction costs influence remittances?," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 177(C).
    13. Sana Slimani & Anis Omri & Abdessalem Abbassi, 2024. "Financing sustainable development goals in Sub‐Saharan Africa: Does international capital flows matter?," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 32(6), pages 6656-6685, December.
    14. Erik Aschenbrand, 2022. "How Can We Promote Sustainable Regional Development and Biodiversity Conservation in Regions with Demographic Decline? The Case of UNESCO Biosphere Reserve Elbe River Landscape Brandenburg, Germany," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-18, September.

    More about this item

    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • D12 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Consumer Economics: Empirical Analysis
    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration
    • F24 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - Remittances
    • C31 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Multiple or Simultaneous Equation Models; Multiple Variables - - - Cross-Sectional Models; Spatial Models; Treatment Effect Models; Quantile Regressions; Social Interaction Models
    • C36 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Multiple or Simultaneous Equation Models; Multiple Variables - - - Instrumental Variables (IV) Estimation

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